Maurie Mac talks Methven and the Taylor Mile

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  

This week promises to bring back a lot of memories for one of the country's greatest ever drivers, Maurice McKendry.

On Friday Alexandra Park will see the running of the $100,000 Group 1 Dawson Harford Taylor Mile - a race he has won more times than any other driver - and then he makes his way to Methven on Sunday to take part in their annual Drivers Challenge for probably the last time.

McKendry, the winner of 3417 races since his first as a junior driver in the mid 1970s, looks back at the Taylor Mile with particular fondness. 

He has won it four times -  Hitchcock (1994), Ho Wong (1999), Mossdale Conner (2015) and Copy That (2021).

Ho Wong's victory more than a quarter of a century ago is the one that stands out. 

"He did a lot for us that horse at a time when we badly needed it," he says.

McKendry bought the horse off his brother Danny who had broken him in.

"I drove the horse down there (Methven) and liked him and six months later I was down there again and thought I better see if I can buy this horse."

"It wasn't a lot of money at the time but it was a lot to us."

Raced by Maurice's wife Susan and trained and driven by Maurice, Ho Wong won seven races from 15 starts between 1998 and 2000, with $72,000 in stakes before being sold "for good money" to North America. 

"He really helped us in life."

The Taylor Mile was his "biggest win".

"We drew one and Cran's horse crossed us and Holmes DG was one the second row behind us so we were a bit lucky," says McKendry.

Trained by Cran Dalgety and driven by Anthony Butt it was London Pride that gave Ho Wong the perfect trip in the trail as he won by three quarters of a length from New York Fella. The Barry Purdon-trained and driven favourite Holmes D G was fourth.

McKendry doesn't have a drive in this Friday's race which is headlined by Merlin, Mo'unga and Republican Party but he will certainly be at the centre of the action at Mt Harding on Sunday.

"I always like driving there - it's one of the better grass tracks." 

Four teams of three will battle it out in the Roseland Racing Drivers' Challenge, with McKendry being part of the Legends team with fellow 3000 plus winners Tony Herlihy (3701) and Ricky May (3164).

The other three teams are : 

Premiership Leaders - John Dunn, Blair Orange and Matty Williamson
Ladies -  Sam Ottley, Sheree Tomlinson and Crystal Hackett
Methven -  Gerard O'Reilly, Kim Butt and John Morrison

McKendry was born and raised in Methven before heading north when he was around 19.

This will be his third and last appearance in the Challenge.

In 2023 McKendry won the "Three Wise Men" challenge against May and Herlihy and last year he and May won the ANZAC 18,000+ Challenge against top Australian drivers Chris Alford and Greg Sugars.

"It's always fun but it is competitive," says McKendry, who'll turn 70 next month, "and it's time for someone else to have a go."